Omaha daily bee., 1887-11-21
The Administration A plan.

Mr.. Carlisle is reported to have said
that he thinks reduction OF revenue 70
the extent Of $40, ,OOO, 900 will be sufficient
very likely on the ground that it might
be safe to go beyond this amount, al
though the surplus for the last fiscal
year was sl03 900 900, and will be greater
for the current year II the present rate
OF taxation is maintained. or the ST0,-
100000 reduction Mr.. Carlisle would
take from forty-hve TO fifty millions out
of the customs by enlarging the free
list for raw materials and reducing the
duties in certain prime necessaries used
by the whole people, and the remainder
out OF the internal revenue, chiefly by
cutting down the tobacco tax. 1t was
said that unless the tariff men would ac-
cept this form OF compensation he would
oppose any Interference with the excise
taxes.
II this correctly represents the posi-
ton Of Mr.. Carlisle it may fairly bc as
sumcd TO forcshadow the attitude which
the administration will take on this
question OF reduction. What chance
will there be Of the success of such a
plan2 1t is to be apprehended there
will not be any. 1t may be regarded as
certainty that the tariff men will under
no circumstances accept compromise
which would require any general sur
render Of customs duties to the extent
of more than one-half of whatever
amount may be agreed upon as expedi
ent. The line on which this
issue is to be fought was pretty
plainly indicated in the late state cam
paigns by several prominent leaders,
among them Senator Sherman, of Ohio.
and Senators Evarts and Hiscock, Of
New York. None of these gentlemen
contemplate any general interference
with tariff duties. All of them made it
very clear that if any concessions are
made they will be extremely moderate,
so far as they are concerned, and not
generally in the direction which it
seems Mr.. Carlisle and his following
will ask. 1t will undoubtedly be found
that the tariff men have modified their
views to only very limited extent since
the last congress, and it is not apparent
that the revenue reformers have made
any great change from what they were
willing to do in the last congress. There
may be little better disposition now
than was exhibited then to arrive at
some policy, but the obstacles appear to
be rs formidable as ever.
There is no encouragement for the
people in the situation. 1t is pretty
evident that party and class interests
will still dominate the national coun-
ellis, with every probability that they
will be found stronger than the popular
demand for relief and consideration for
the public welfare as affected by an ex-
cessive and dangerous accumulation Of
the peoples money in the national
treasury. 1t is always to be hoped that
the peoples representatives will at last
place the interests of the people before
| all other considerations, and such hope
may still be entertained respecting the
present exigency, but certainly the out
look is not promising. If the plan said
to have been outlined by Mr.. Carlisle is
that of the administration, and it has
been determined to adhere to it, q dead
| lock and the failure of all attempts at
| revenue legislation at the next session
OF congress may be regarded as inev-
table.